Role of shear wave elastography in the diagnosis and assessment of severity of acute pancreatitis

Abstract Background Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a common condition that can lead to systemic and local consequences. The current study aimed to determine the usefulness of abdominal shear wave elastography (SWE) in the identification and evaluation of acute pancreatitis severity. Methods Thirty patients with AP diagnosis and thirty healthy control subjects were enrolled in a prospective case control study. Laboratory, radiological, and demographic data were recorded. Tissue elasticity was measured using point shear wave elastography ( p -SWE), and results were compared with severity and radiological assessment systems. Results Thirty patients with AP (mean age 41.1 y) and 30 healthy subjects (mean age 45.1 y) were included in the study. The mean SWE was significantly higher in the patient group than in the control group (1.9 vs. 1.2 m/s, p < 0.001). SWE cutoff value of > 1.63 m/s was associated with 56.7% sensitivity and 100% specificity. Individuals with severe acute pancreatitis according to CT severity had a significantly higher mean pancreatic stiffness compared with moderately severe and mild AP (2.6 vs. 1.8 vs. 1.3, respectively) ( p value < 0.001). Conclusions p-SWE is a reliable method for the diagnosis and assessment of severity of AP. p-SWE had the best accuracy and discriminatory ability in discrimination between different grades of acute pancreatitis.